How to achieve STABILITY?

[Reef Puncher]

Neptune Trident. Both the regular and NP. Helps me to keep things in range.

i keep hearing the np cant detect phosphates under 0.1. only detects the higher ranges. is that true?

 

[Troylee]

For me stability is leaving my tank alone! Not adding or changing anything! I really don’t care what the numbers say and I don’t test! I keep my hands and new products out of tank and let it do its thang…

 

[bubbgee]

i keep hearing the np cant detect phosphates under 0.1. only detects the higher ranges. is that true?

It was detecting for me. I stopped comparing to Hanna and just focused on what it's telling me and keeping it in range.

 

[-XENOMORPH-]

After 5 years I test salinity weekly and everything else , once or twice a year. Hahahahah. You OCD peeps are probably going nuts reading that. Hahahaha

 

[Peter Houde]

Green

 

[Peter Houde]

While this seems like a silly question, I was thinking today I don't really know how to do it. I frequently struggle with keeping parameters in the same range, keeping away Green Hair algae or other algae. or even keep some corals alive

What are some tips you would give somebody to achieve stability?

prozac

 

[Captain-Barnacle]

There are wonderful subtleties to bio-stability. When an ecosystem is out of equilibrium, it will typically oscillate around equilibrium until it settles down (damping). When species are establishing themselves, they will at first struggle, then settle in by epigenetic adaptation.

One can either import stability from a prior tank or develop stability by patient baby steps, or anything in-between.

 

[Captain-Barnacle]

Oh, yes, one more thing, many species synchronize lifecycles, so their populations wax and wane together. This can be confused with some unrelated parameter being falsely believed to be out-of-whack.

 

[Charles Zinn]

Keeping in that last one is a real killer for some of us.... I can't do it yet, even after all these years... think it's only gotten worse.

Automation helps keep it stable

 

[Charles Zinn]

Stability comes with good husbandry. 1st tanks I was too anxious. added too much too soon and often( some6times drove from Englewood.fl to Orlando, WWC added too much)
next tank was bigger but still had swings. Moved south to ft myers. Mover screwed up equip and plumbing.
added more automation cal reactor
learneed about ICP and its affect on stability.
2+ years after move tank is stable nutrients are down
started ne cube( 28X28X26) cooked new marco rock plus old rock that had too many bubble tip anenomes on it used diff. type of bacteria every 7 to 10 days.

tried Jake Adams way Started tank live sand Old and new rock and Copepods 4 clowns added a coral or 2 a week no water changes Icp test and Reef Blueprint trace elements have added more fish used some live sand from older reef tank. Best
start of new tank;. corals growing clowns hosting in an Elegance oral heavy from start less fish, I feed live brine and Frozen Mysis. They haven't grown to eat nori8 yet.; Between podcast that mainly show how to do who don't sell much product qnd finding a Awesome Local fish store whose acros werent minature., new tannk and old tank are doing great. Old tank is about 5-6 yrs old just have too many bubble tips which grew outof control while in Hospital 1+ yrs agp( about 100=150 they nultiply every full moon

 

[Reef Puncher]

For me - stability means:
1. Alk: between 8.5 to 9 dKH
2. N & P: non-zero
3. Temp: within 1-2F
4. Salt: between 1.024-1.026 SG
5. Budget: between $1-$2k per month :)

That’s pretty much it.

this. this right here. i would only change N &P: non zero, p never above 0.15.
at least for my tank as i have alot of acro.
my alk swings between 8.5 and 9 too. usually after a waterchange it will swing a little.